Jabal al Akhdar Park to be opened to the public in August
Sheikh Sultan bin Mansour al Ghafili, Wali of Jabal Al Akhdar, said the park covers an area of 20,000 sqm and includes integrated recreational and service facilities, including a 1,000 sqm children's play area, sports tracks, and investment areas containing a café, a shop, and an area dedicated to electric games, in addition to prayer rooms and restrooms for men and women.
The park also includes a multi-use open theater and 5,000 sqm of green spaces, landscaped with 150 trees and 400 shrubs, along with vegetation that enhances the site's aesthetics and makes the park a complete year-round entertainment destination.
These projects contribute to enhancing the state's tourism landscape, providing community platforms for hosting national events, and playing a role in supporting small and medium-sized enterprises and stimulating local growth by creating job opportunities and stimulating commercial activity.
He said the Wilayat of Jabal Al Akhdar, in coordination with the Al Dakhiliyah Governorate Office, is keen to ensure that these initiatives serve as a foundation for a comprehensive development drive that takes into account the principles of sustainability, stimulates innovation, and enhances the Omani identity in all its components.
His Excellency added that the next phase will witness the implementation of additional initiatives aimed at enhancing the state's readiness to attract quality investments, particularly in the areas of ecotourism, smart agriculture, and community services, while emphasizing the importance of integrating the roles of government agencies, the private sector, and the local community to ensure a comprehensive and sustainable development impact.
For his part, Eng. Mohammed bin Ali al Wardi, Director of the Projects Department at Al Dakhiliyah Municipality, pointed out that the park project is an extension of the governorate's vision to develop public spaces, and the celebration square in Saih Qatna, which was officially inaugurated this July, represents one of the most prominent cultural and tourism infrastructure projects in the governorate.
He explained that the square was designed to be a multi-use platform that blends seamlessly with the geographical character of the Green Mountain. It includes a main arena for performances, along with service facilities such as parking, restrooms, and family lounges, making it an ideal destination for hosting seasonal and national events.
Engineer Mohamed Al Wardi stated that the square has become a major attraction for visitors to the Green Mountain Festival 2025, hosting cultural, artistic, and entertainment events, in addition to exhibitions of local handicrafts and agricultural products, enhancing the project's role in supporting entrepreneurship and stimulating the local economy.
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Zawya
7 hours ago
- Zawya
South Africa: SMEs warned to brace for Trump tariffs, rising costs
South African SMEs face growing pressure amid rising geopolitical tensions and economic uncertainty, with TymeBank warning that new US tariffs could significantly impact local exporters from August. In its July 2025 SME Outlook, the bank's group executive for business banking, Miguel da Silva, says President Donald Trump's 30% blanket tariff on South African imports, effective 1 August, will disproportionately hurt small businesses in key export sectors like agriculture, mining, and automotive manufacturing. 'This is bad news for many South African SMEs who currently export to the United States,' says da Silva. He warns that the move could result in job losses and shrinking revenues unless businesses urgently seek alternative export markets. President Cyril Ramaphosa has echoed this sentiment, calling for greater resilience in global supply chains and urging exporters to diversify. Some SMEs have already pivoted to African markets through the African Continental Free Trade Area (AfCFTA), while others are exploring opportunities in the BRICS+ bloc. China's decision to eliminate all tariffs on imports from African countries is a key development in this regard. The tariff threat comes as South African SMEs face a broader margin squeeze from electricity hikes and rising petrol prices. However, lower inflation forecasts—now expected to stay below 4% in 2025 may provide some relief. Economic growth remains modest, with Q2 GDP data due on 25 July expected to show only a slight uptick from the previous quarter. The upcoming interest rate decision by the South African Reserve Bank (SARB), scheduled for 31 July, is also being closely watched. While most analysts expect rates to remain unchanged, some anticipate a possible 25-basis-point cut, something TymeBank hopes will happen to stimulate consumer spending and SME demand. On a more positive note, da Silva says access to SME funding is likely to improve, thanks to expected partnerships between government, financial institutions, and fintechs. However, smaller businesses with limited track records may still struggle to access meaningful support. 'The next few months will be crucial. SMEs will need to adapt quickly to remain competitive in a shifting global and local environment,' da Silva concludes. All rights reserved. © 2022. Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
Khaleej Times
8 hours ago
- Khaleej Times
Mena banks can bridge the SME finance gap through simplified, AI-driven servicing
Small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) play a central role in the Middle East and North African (Mena) economies, yet many remain underserved by formal financial systems, experts say. According to the International Finance Corporation (IFC), 40 per cent of formal micro, small, and medium enterprises (MSMEs) in developing countries face unmet financing needs amounting to $5.2 trillion annually. This is equivalent to 1.4 times the current level of global MSME lending. In the Mena region, the finance gap is particularly high, at 88 per cent of potential demand. In 2024, SME credit in Saudi Arabia rose by 27.6 per cent to $94 billion. In the UAE, SME lending reached $22.1 billion by mid-year. These developments reflect broader efforts to close the financing gap through technology-enabled servicing models. 'Banks often face structural challenges in addressing this gap,' said Carlos Teixeira, Head Business Dev and Strategy, Lending at Finastra. 'Legacy infrastructure, high servicing costs, increased credit risk, and fragmented data make it difficult to assess SME creditworthiness and process loans efficiently. As a result, many SMEs rely on internal funds or informal sources to finance growth and operations.' According to Finastra's 2024 Financial Services State of the Nation Survey, 87 per cent of financial institutions globally see improving access to finance as part of their responsibility. The report highlights growing adoption of cloud-native platforms, API-based architectures, and AI. Financial institutions in countries like UAE and Saudi Arabia are already taking steps to modernise their banking capabilities, which can help enable faster and more scalable lending, including to SMEs. Finastra continues to support financial institutions across Mena with modernising their SME lending capabilities, while helping to expand financial inclusion. 'Adopting a simplified servicing approach in lending is becoming a strategic priority for banks to better serve SMEs,' added Carlos Teixeira. 'By automating workflows, applying data analytics, breaking down silos and integrating digital channels, banks can reduce costs, improve credit assessments and processing times, reduce risk and deliver more tailored, responsive support.' 'Simplified and scalable servicing models also present a commercial opportunity. Banks can serve more SMEs profitably, compete more effectively with fintechs and private credit providers, and unlock new revenue streams. At the same time, expanding access to credit allows banks to contribute meaningfully to closing the finance gap and supporting economic resilience across the region,' highlighted Carlos Teixeira. To extend their reach and improve efficiency, banks in the region are also partnering with fintechs and third-party providers via digital ecosystems. These collaborations can, for example, improve risk modelling, access to alternative data sets, and processes for credit assessments. This, in turn, allows financial institutions to expand access to credit while maintaining prudent risk controls.
Zawya
9 hours ago
- Zawya
Oman advances work on national biotech strategy
Muscat – Oman has taken a key step towards shaping its National Biotechnology Strategy with the launch of an international tender to appoint a specialised consultancy firm to guide the initiative. At its third meeting held on Sunday, the Biotechnology Supervisory Committee reviewed progress made since its previous session, including completion of preparatory work required to initiate the strategy. The meeting was chaired by H E Dr Rahma al Mahrouqi, Minister of Higher Education, Research and Innovation. Ministry of Higher Education, Research and Innovation (MoHERI) floated the tender via the electronic platform of Authority for Projects, Tenders and Local Content. The consultancy will be responsible for reviewing relevant laws and regulations, identifying strategic priorities, drafting a financial plan, and proposing an executive roadmap for implementation. It will also recommend governance improvements and mechanisms for periodic review, with the strategy expected to cover major biotechnology domains including red, green and white applications. Firms with 'Excellent' or 'First' vendor ratings are invited to submit bids by July 25. Dr Kawthar al Balushi, Director of the National Biotechnology Strategy Project, briefed committee members on the timeline and activities for the next phase. Coinciding with the committee meeting, a cooperation programme was signed to provide support for the strategy's preparation. The agreement brings together MoHERI, Oman Vision 2040 Implementation Follow-up Unit and Oman India Fertiliser Company. © Apex Press and Publishing Provided by SyndiGate Media Inc. (
